Indiana Glass Company, (Dunkirk, Indiana)
A Brief history
The Indiana Glass Company was formally created in 1908, though the origin of the factory was some years earlier - in 1896 when it was used for building and repairing railroad carriages. It was acquired by The Beaty and Brady Company which started to make domestic glassware, and later, in 1899, it became part of the National Glass Company combine. When this company failed, the plant was bought from receivership and became the Indiana Glass company.
The Indiana Glass Company was formally created in 1908, though the origin of the factory was some years earlier - in 1896 when it was used for building and repairing railroad carriages. It was acquired by The Beaty and Brady Company which started to make domestic glassware, and later, in 1899, it became part of the National Glass Company combine. When this company failed, the plant was bought from receivership and became the Indiana Glass company.
The area benefited from enormous local supplies of natural gas, although Indiana Glass also produced its own supply, made from coal. Indiana Glass did not make any Classic (old) Carnival Glass. In fact whilst the major makers of Classic Carnival Glass such as Fenton, Northwood and Dugan were increasingly active in promoting their iridised ware at that time, Indiana was offering pressed crystal glassware in imitation cut glass patterns. On the right is a Butler Brothers wholesale ad from their Mid-Spring 1911 catalogue. It shows three items in crystal glass, in the Indiana pattern we now call Heirloom. During the Depression years Indiana produced a great deal of tableware and later, automobile lenses. In the late 1950s, Lancaster Glass purchased Indiana and in the early 1960s, the company became part of the large Lancaster Colony Corporation. In the 1970s Indiana became a major producer of Contemporary Carnival Glass (see below). In 2002, glassmaking at Indiana Glass, Dunkirk, ceased (although it seems the name continued as "Indiana Glass" with production elsewhere for a few years). |
Above: a Butler Brothers ad in their Mid-Spring 1911 catalogue. It shows three pieces in crystal glass (the round bowl and the covered comport on the top row, and the pitcher). The pattern is what we now call Heirloom.
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Old moulds are re-worked
When Indiana started to make Contemporary Carnival Glass in the 1970s, they not only introduced new patterns and shapes, but they also turned to some of their old moulds that were in use in their early years. These old moulds were not used for Carnival Glass production originally, so although the items produced in Contemporary Carnival do not have any maker's mark, it is clear that the iridised items are of modern production. A good example is Heirloom - in it's early days, it was produced in crystal (non-iridised) glass, imitating cut glass items. Indiana called it their 123 Pattern, and it has also been called Panelled Daisy and Fine Cut by Pattern Glass collectors. It was the 1970s reissue that Indiana called their Heirloom Series pattern.
When Indiana started to make Contemporary Carnival Glass in the 1970s, they not only introduced new patterns and shapes, but they also turned to some of their old moulds that were in use in their early years. These old moulds were not used for Carnival Glass production originally, so although the items produced in Contemporary Carnival do not have any maker's mark, it is clear that the iridised items are of modern production. A good example is Heirloom - in it's early days, it was produced in crystal (non-iridised) glass, imitating cut glass items. Indiana called it their 123 Pattern, and it has also been called Panelled Daisy and Fine Cut by Pattern Glass collectors. It was the 1970s reissue that Indiana called their Heirloom Series pattern.
Left: an extract from the Butler Brothers Mid-Spring 1909 wholesale catalogue, showing the pattern Indiana originally called "123 Pattern".
Above: the mould was revived in the 1970s to make this magnificent Heirloom pattern Contemporary Carnival punch set in Sunset Red Carnival. Picture courtesy of Seeck Auctions. |
Indiana's Revival / Contemporary Carnival Glass
Indiana became a major producer of Revival Carnival Glass during the 1970s, with the launch of Carnival ranges in the distinctive colours, patterns and shapes that today are familiar to most collectors. There is no trademark on their Revival Carnival.
Production of their Revival items - which were primarily functional in nature - continued through the 1970s and into the very early 1980s. Indiana's first Revival Carnival colour was “Iridescent Blue” in 1971. It was quickly followed by "Iridescent Gold"(a golden amberish shade), “Iridescent Sunset” (red to amberina), “Iridescent Lime (green)” and in 1974 by “Iridescent Amethyst”. Purple and rare black Carnival were also made by Indiana.
Indiana also marketed various assortments, or selections, of their Revival Carnival, under names such as "Goldentone" and "Florist Selection".
Indiana became a major producer of Revival Carnival Glass during the 1970s, with the launch of Carnival ranges in the distinctive colours, patterns and shapes that today are familiar to most collectors. There is no trademark on their Revival Carnival.
Production of their Revival items - which were primarily functional in nature - continued through the 1970s and into the very early 1980s. Indiana's first Revival Carnival colour was “Iridescent Blue” in 1971. It was quickly followed by "Iridescent Gold"(a golden amberish shade), “Iridescent Sunset” (red to amberina), “Iridescent Lime (green)” and in 1974 by “Iridescent Amethyst”. Purple and rare black Carnival were also made by Indiana.
Indiana also marketed various assortments, or selections, of their Revival Carnival, under names such as "Goldentone" and "Florist Selection".
Iridescent Gold Carnival Glass - with "indisputable consumer appeal!"
Above: a 1970s Indiana catalogue showing part of their for their Harvest pattern range - #1295 8" Wedding Bowl; #1217 70oz. Pitcher;
#1307 5oz. Juice Set; #1215 14oz Cooler Set (large tumbler); #1216 7" Candy Jar; and #1224 9oz. Goblet Set.
The #1198 Oval Center Bowl is often thought to be part of the Harvest range, but it is different - Indiana referred to it
without the word "Harvest" and the pattern on the bowl is an older Indiana No. 301 Line, known as Garland.
#1307 5oz. Juice Set; #1215 14oz Cooler Set (large tumbler); #1216 7" Candy Jar; and #1224 9oz. Goblet Set.
The #1198 Oval Center Bowl is often thought to be part of the Harvest range, but it is different - Indiana referred to it
without the word "Harvest" and the pattern on the bowl is an older Indiana No. 301 Line, known as Garland.
Above: another 1970s Indiana catalogue page - #1202 Relish Tray; #1211, 3 piece Console Set;
#1212 Hostess Plate; #1213 Egg Relish; #1256 5" Wedding Bowl (aka Kings Crown); #1260 Hen On Nest; #1263 Crimped Hostess Plate.
#1212 Hostess Plate; #1213 Egg Relish; #1256 5" Wedding Bowl (aka Kings Crown); #1260 Hen On Nest; #1263 Crimped Hostess Plate.
Iridescent Blue Carnival Glass - "spectacular volume sales!"
Above: #0664 Monticello Basket; #0667 Canterbury Basket; #2882 Princess Candy Box; #2891 Hen On Nest;
#2892 Garland Bowl; #2893 5 inch Wedding Bowl (aka Kings Crown); #2908 Hostess Plate, ruffled.
#2892 Garland Bowl; #2893 5 inch Wedding Bowl (aka Kings Crown); #2908 Hostess Plate, ruffled.
Here’s how the introduction of Indiana's move into Carnival Glass was described in a 1975 self-published paperback by O. Joe Olson, entitled “Carnival Glass in the mid 1970s”: “In its Diamond Jubilee year of 1971, Indiana Glass Co., at Dunkirk, Ind., entered Carnival with a blue embossed Grape pattern, and the line was built up to some 32 items. The glass was produced by automatic pressing and distributed widely."
A report from California, written for Carnival Glass Encore in 1984 noted that Indiana's Carnival Glass first appeared in local Safeway stores in 1970: “at that time it was really cheap, all the major drugstores had a big line.” Later, it was also being sold in Thriftway grocery stores and in K-Mart, often being presented in colourfully designed boxes. Indiana also made glass for Tiara Co. (see below).
A report from California, written for Carnival Glass Encore in 1984 noted that Indiana's Carnival Glass first appeared in local Safeway stores in 1970: “at that time it was really cheap, all the major drugstores had a big line.” Later, it was also being sold in Thriftway grocery stores and in K-Mart, often being presented in colourfully designed boxes. Indiana also made glass for Tiara Co. (see below).
Tiara
Indiana also made glass for Tiara Co. in 1971. Tiara was an independent sales and merchandising company based in Dunkirk, Indiana, and they used the House Party Plan for selling. Quite scarce examples of light green Carnival "Eclipse" (a geometric pattern often simply called "Tiara") water set which comprised a pitcher and four stemmed goblets were made in the early 1970s by Indiana for them (shown, right). This was actually made using an old Indiana Glass mould known originally as "Eclipse"(as well as "Flower Medallion" by Pattern Glass collectors). Other Tiara items included a Diamond Point covered candy box, compote and chalice in marigold as well as a swan flower arranger. More Carnival for Tiara was made in black in the shape of a covered compote, tall tumbler and cookie jar in a sawtooth pattern called Cameo; these items were only sold through their House Party Plan. |
A Tiara pattern water set in Iridescent Lime (green) Carnival.
Courtesy of Seeck Auctions. |
Indiana produced a wide range of Carnival shapes and patterns which, although no trademark is present, can usually be distinguished by the company's distinctive colours and iridescence.
Probably the most readily found are their Harvest (aka Harvest Grape) and Heirloom patterns (see the links in the "Read more..." section below). Their covered Hen-on-Nest pieces were also immensely popular, as were the delightful Egg Hors D'oeuvre Dish and the Egg Relish, and even a "copy" of Sowerby's Chunky (aka #2266, aka English Hob and Button) which Indiana called their Hostess plate. They also made various handled baskets and bonbon dishes, such as the Lily Pons (aka Sunflower) and the Loganberry (aka Strawberry Relish). The ad on the right is from 1974. It was in the Leader Herald newspaper in Gloversville, New York state - both of these pieces were offered as "freebies" as part of a Christmas Club scheme operated by Albany Savings Bank in New York state. Indiana originally made these dishes circa 1920s-1930s in green and pink (non-iridised) glass; they were listed as No. 606 “Loganberry” bon bon and No. 605 7 inch Nappy in the “Lily Pons” range. The moulds were re-used in the 1970s for Indiana's Contemporary Carnival production. Loganberry (aka Strawberry Relish) bon bon.
The amber-like colour was called “Gold” or “Goldentone”. |
Many Carnival collectors begin by acquiring a piece of Indiana’s Revival Carnival. It can be a spring board to learning more about Carnival, and is often the embryonic start for a collection of Classic old Carnival. In itself, Indiana’s Carnival is loved by many simply for what it is – bright, colourful and immensely
Indiana Revival Carnival ads in the Press
Have you ever seen any Indiana Carnival advertised in the newspapers? It was fascinating to see these wonderful contemporaneous ads, the prices, the shops that sold it, and the varying styles of the advertising. The earliest ones we found were from 1971. To see all these brilliant newspaper ads, click on the image on the right, or on the tile in the "Read More" section below. |
Read more about Indiana's Revival Carnival Glass, with more Indiana catalogue images - click on the links below.